Method and apparatus for controlling the blending of drinks

ABSTRACT

A drink-blending machine ( 10 ) includes an ice-shaving unit ( 11 ) and a blender assembly ( 12 ). The ice-shaving unit ( 11 ) is adapted to transfer ice from a bin ( 15 ) to the pitcher ( 18 ) of the blender assembly ( 12 ). A weighing mechanism ( 31 ) includes a deflection beam ( 33 ), one end of which carries the pitcher ( 18 ). The deflection beam ( 33 ) includes a strain gauge ( 34 ) which provides a signal proportional to weight to a control circuitry box ( 30 ). In operation of the machine ( 10 ), a quantity of liquid is placed in the pitcher ( 18 ) and dependent upon the weight of ice or liquid-to-ice ratio predetermined by depressing a selected button ( 44 ), ice from the ice-shaving unit ( 11 ) is transferred to the pitcher ( 18 ) until the predetermined weight of ice is received by the pitcher ( 18 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for blending drinks, inparticular, drinks made with a portion of liquid and a portion of ice,as is often prepared and served in restaurants, cocktail lounges, or thelike. More particularly, this invention precisely controls the portionsof the drink so as to provide repeated, consistent drinks.

BACKGROUND ART

Very popular beverages today are those commonly referred to as “frozen”drinks whereby a portion of liquid, which often includes liquor, and aportion of ice are mixed in a blender to create an almost slush-likedrink. In the past, the most typical manner to create such drinksrequired the bartender or other operator to put a quantity of liquor,flavored drink mix, ice and possibly even fruit in the pitcher of ablender, and then operate the blender until that drink is perceived tobe adequately mixed. The drink is then transferred from the pitcher ofthe blender to a glass for consumption by the patron.

Such a procedure has many disadvantages. For example, this procedurerequires the constant attention of the operator who, in the sometimesbusy environment of a restaurant or cocktail lounge, could be giving hisattention to making other drinks while the frozen drink is beingprepared. Moreover, even the skilled bartender cannot, in this manner,always make drinks which are consistent in quantity and quality. Thatis, the operator is required to guess to the correct amount of liquidand ice to put into the blender, dependent on the number of drinks to bemade, and if insufficient ingredients are blended, the patron's glasswill not be filled on the first try, and the operator will be requiredto blend additional liquid and ice. Or, as often is the case, theoperator may blend too large a quantity of ingredients which, if noteventually used, is wasteful to the economic detriment of theestablishment. Moreover, there is no way to assure that the quality ofthe drink is consistent from drink-to-drink. If patrons have enjoyed agood first drink, they expect that their second drink will be of thesame consistency and flavor of their first drink, which cannot alwayshappen when the operator is required to “eyeball” the amount of liquidrelative to the amount of ice to be blended.

One proposed solution to at least some of the aforementioned problems isto provide a combined ice dispenser and blender whereby the functions ofeach are controlled by time. Such is shown, for example, in U.S. PatentNo. 4,528,824 and 4,681,030. In these devices, an attempt is made tocontrol the amount of ice to be delivered to the blending cup byoperating an ice shaver for a predetermined amount of time. Then, aftera predetermined time delay, the blender operates for a preselectedamount of time. However, repeatably consistent drinks cannot be made bysuch a device in that there is no correlation between the amount ofliquid which is manually placed in the cup of the blender and the amountof ice to be delivered. Moreover, using time as the operative controlparameter does not assure that the correct or precise quantity of icehas been added. For example, the ice machine might be almost empty,thereby not having a sufficient quantity of ice for the drink, yet thisprior art device would run for a predetermined time and deliver anincorrect quantity of ice. Or, even if there was sufficient ice in themachine, it will not always be delivered at a uniform rate and might noteven be delivered at all, as could happen if the ice delivering bladeswere operating in a dead air space created by an arching of the ice inthe machine.

Thus, controlling the operation of a drink-making machine using time asthe controlling parameter does not adequately solve the problemsprevalent in the art.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a method andapparatus in the form of an ice shaver and blender for preparing drinkswhich creates a repeatably consistent quality drink.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method andapparatus, as above, in which the precise desired amount of ice, byweight, is metered into the blender.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method andapparatus, as above, in which the quantity of ice metered to the blenderis dependent on the weight of the liquid in the blender.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a methodand apparatus, as above, which creates drinks of a repeatably consistentquantity.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a methodand apparatus, as above, which allows the drink maker to use his timeefficiently.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide amethod and apparatus, as above, in which errors by the drink maker increating a drink are reduced, if not eliminated.

These and other objects of the present invention, as well as theadvantages thereof over existing prior art forms, which will becomeapparent from the description to follow, are accomplished by theimprovements hereinafter described and claimed.

In general, a method of making a liquid and ice drink, in accordancewith the present invention, utilizes a blender and a source of ice andincludes the steps of placing a quantity of liquid in the pitcher of theblender, and transferring ice from the ice source to the pitcher until apredetermined weight of ice is received by the pitcher.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the methodof making a liquid and ice drink utilizing a blender and an icedispenser includes the steps of weighing an empty pitcher of theblender, placing an arbitrary amount of liquid in the pitcher, selectinga desired liquid-to-ice ratio for the drink, starting the blender,weighing the pitcher with the liquid therein, determining the weight ofthe liquid by subtracting the weight of the empty pitcher from theweight of the pitcher with the liquid therein, initiating the transferof the ice from the dispenser to the pitcher, terminating the transferof ice when the determined weight of the ice matches the selectedliquid-to-ice ratio, and stopping the blender.

Yet another method of making a liquid and ice drink, in accordance withthe present invention, which utilizes a blender and an ice dispenser,includes the steps of placing a quantity of liquid in the pitcher of theblender, selecting the weight of ice to be added to the pitcher,weighing the pitcher and liquid to determine an initial weight,initiating the transfer of ice from the dispenser to the pitcher,weighing the pitcher with the liquid therein as the ice is beingtransferred to determine a current weight, subtracting the initialweight from the current weight to determine the weight of the ice,stopping the transfer of ice when the weight of the ice matches theselected weight, and operating the blender to mix the drink.

An apparatus made in accordance with the present invention forcontrolling the mixing of a drink includes a blender having a pitcherand an ice machine adapted to transfer ice to the pitcher. A weighingmechanism is provided to determine the weight of the transferred ice.The weighing mechanism initiates the stopping of the transfer of the iceto the pitcher when a predetermined weight of ice is in the pitcher.

A preferred exemplary apparatus for controlling the blending of drinks,and its method of operation, incorporating the concepts of the presentinvention, is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawingswithout attempting to show all the various forms and modifications inwhich the invention might be embodied, the invention being measured bythe appended claims and not by the details of the specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ice shaver and blender device made inaccordance with the concepts of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a somewhat schematic view of some of the internal componentsof the device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a somewhat schematic, partially broken away and sectioned,side elevational view particularly depicting the weighing mechanismutilized by the device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram depicting one method of operation of thedevice in accordance with the concepts of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram depicting another method of operation of thedevice in accordance with the concepts of the present invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A drink-blending machine is indicated generally by the numeral 10 and isshown in FIG. 1 as including two basic components, an ice dispenserpreferably in the form of an ice-shaving unit generally indicated by thenumeral 11, and a blender assembly generally indicated by the numeral12. Drink-blending machine 10 also includes a base portion 13 whichsupports a partially cylindrical pedestal 14 which, in turn, supports anice bin 15 which is part of ice-shaving unit 11 and is adapted to carrya supply of ice. Ice-shaving unit 11 also includes a lid 16 for closingbin 15, lid 16 having a handle 17 so that it can readily be removed frombin 15 to position ice therein. Unless otherwise evident, all componentsof machine 10 can be fabricated of any suitable plastic material, and itis preferable to form bin 15 of a transparent material so that the usercan observe the quantity of ice maintained therein.

Blender assembly 12 includes a container or pitcher 18 having a base 19which is received by, and carried by, a pad 20. Pad 20 includes locators21 generally near the corners thereof to receive a mating structure (notshown) on the bottom of base 19. Pitcher 18 includes a conventionalhandle 22 and cover 23, with cover 23 having a slot 24 therein toreceive an ice chute 25 therethrough. Chute 25 thus enables bin 15 tocommunicate with pitcher 18 so that ice may pass from ice-shaving unit11 to pitcher 18.

Base portion 13 and pedestal 14 internally house the operatingcomponents of drink-blending machine 10. As schematically shown in FIG.2, the bottom of base portion 13 includes a support plate 26 having feet27 depending downwardly therefrom, generally at the corner edgesthereof, to support machine 10. Plate 26 carries a blender motor 28, anice-shaver motor 29, an electronic control circuitry box 30, and aweighing mechanism generally indicated by the numeral 31.

Although the precise details of the operation of drink blending machine10 will be hereinafter described in more detail, in general the operatorplaces the liquid or other ingredients of the drink to be created intopitcher 18. The liquid could include a drink mix and an alcoholicbeverage, and the other ingredients could include whole or sliced fruitor the like. Individually, or collectively, these ingredients will bereferred to herein as a “liquid.” In a conventional manner, ice-shavermotor 29 causes blades (not shown) to shave the ice at the bottom of bin15, which ice passes through chute 25 and into pitcher 18. In a likewiseconventional manner, blender motor 28 causes a blade or agitator (notshown) positioned near the bottom of pitcher 18 to mix the liquid andice until the drink is completed.

In accordance with the present invention, weighing mechanism 31 isprovided to determine the precise amount of ice to be positioned inpitcher 18. Weighing mechanism 31 includes a pedestal 32 positioned onplate 26 which carries one end of a deflection beam 33. Beam 33 isprovided with a conventional strain gauge 34 positioned above a recessedor thinned-out area 35 of beam 33. The other end of beam 33 carries pad20. Thus, the entire weight of pad 20 and pitcher 18 is suspended on theend of beam 33. A flap guard 36 is shown as being mounted on beam 33 andextends above strain gauge 34 to protect it from damage by undesiredcontact. As will hereinafter be described in more detail, and as is wellknown in the art, strain gauge 34 provides a signal proportional toweight to the circuitry in control box 30.

The manner in which blender assembly 12 is operated by motor 28 issomewhat schematically shown in FIG. 3. Motor 28, via a belt (notshown), drives a pulley 37 which rotates a stub shaft 38. Shaft 38extends through a bearing housing 39 which is received through, but doesnot engage, an opening 40 in pad 20. At least the upper portion of shaft38 is squared to be received in a squared bore 41 of a shaft coupler 43so as to rotate coupler 43. Shaft coupler 43 also includes a splinedbore 42 opposite or vertically adjacent to squared bore 41.

The shaft (not shown) which drives the blade of the blending assembly 12is likewise splined so that it and pitcher 18 are moveable verticallyrelative to coupler 43, yet the shaft is engaged for rotation by coupler43.

By means of weighing mechanism 31 and conventional electronic circuitrypositioned in control box 30, which circuitry could be designed invarious forms, as known to one skilled in the art, to carry out thevarious required functions, drink-blending machine 10 can operate byvarious methods to blend a drink in accordance with the presentinvention. The operation is controlled by series selection buttons 44located on a touch pad 45 on the front of base portion 13, eachselection button 44, as will hereinafter be described, providingdiffering instructions to the electronic circuitry. In addition, pad 45may be provided with a number of other buttons 46 for preformingcalibration, programming and other functions.

One preferred method of operation is depicted in FIG. 4. Machine 10 isfirst calibrated by placing an empty pitcher 18 on pad 20 and thenpressing a calibration button 46. Preferably, the blender may be startedat this time, for a dry run, for the purpose of freeing the interactionof coupler 43 and the spline on the blender shaft. Strain gauge 34 thenprovides a signal proportional to the empty pitcher weight to theelectronic circuitry, which indicia is stored in a register therein.This calibration process would only need to be repeated if a new pitcherwere used or if, through a vast amount of use, there may be a suspicionthat the pitcher weight had changed.

With the empty pitcher weight now being known, in the method of FIG. 4,the user need only put any arbitrary amount of liquid into pitcher 18.Of course, the skilled user, if he knew, for example, that he weremixing two drinks, would likely attempt to place enough liquid mix fortwo drinks into pitcher 18. But such is not necessary because inaccordance with the method of FIG. 4, the precise amount of ice,dependent on the desired liquid-to-ice ratio, will be supplied topitcher 18. To that end, after the arbitrary amount of liquid is placedinto pitcher 18, it is placed on pad 20. The operator then depresses oneof the selection buttons 44 on touch pad 45 to instruct the electroniccircuitry to provide a certain amount of ice, by weight, to pitcher 18.Each button 44 will have a different ratio ascribed to it, a ratioidentifiable by the circuitry. For example, one button 44 may signal thecircuitry that a one-to-one ratio of ice and liquid is desired, whereasanother button 44 may be used for a one-to-two ratio or the like. Theproviders of the liquid drink mix usually instruct the user relative tothe desired ratio for their mix.

Thus, the operator, knowing the desired liquid mix-to-ice ratio,depresses or touches the corresponding button 44 at which time theblender is preferably started by activation of motor 28. After a veryshort pause, to assure that the interaction of coupler 43 and the splineon the blender shaft is free, the weight of the pitcher filled with theliquid is read by the strain gauge 34 and stored in a register in theelectronic circuitry. The empty weight of pitcher 18 is then subtractedfrom the weight of pitcher 18 with the arbitrary amount of liquidtherein (to determine and store the weight of the liquid) and the iceshaver is started by activation of motor 29. At this point in time, theweight of the pitcher, liquid and ice, is monitored by gauge 34, andwhen the desired weight is reached, which now includes the predeterminedweight amount of ice (dependent on the ratio selected), ice shaver 11 isstopped and the blender will continue to run for a time period dependenton the total weight of the drink. That is, for example, if a one-to-oneratio has been selected, ice shaver 11 will stop when a weight of iceequal to the weight of liquid has been obtained, and the blender 12 willbe programmed to run for a further time, which may be longer or shorterif a different ratio were selected.

As a result, no matter what amount of liquid is added to the pitcher,the desired proportional amount of ice will be added, resulting in adrink of perfect, repeatable consistency. Such would result even if theuser under-poured or over-poured the original amount of liquid.

FIG. 5 shows one of several other modes of operation for machine 10. Inthis mode, the user fills the pitcher with his best estimation of theapproximate amount of liquid desired, dependent on the number or size ofdrinks to be made. The user then depresses or touches the appropriatebutton 44, with buttons 44 in this instance being programmed to tell themachine how many drinks are intended to be made, and therefore how muchice, by weight, will be needed. For example, one button 44 may dictateone six-ounce drink, and another button 44 may dictate a twelve ouncedrink, or two six-ounce drinks. The weight of the pitcher 18 with theliquid therein, often called the tare weight, is then determined bystrain gauge 34 and the tare weight is stored in a register of thecircuitry. Ice shaver 11 is then activated to provide ice to the pitcherand the current weight thereof is continually monitored by gauge 34. Thetare weight is subtracted from the current weight to determine theweight of the ice which has been added. This ice weight is compared withthe final ice weight based on the drink selected, that is, dependent onwhich button 44 has been depressed. When the current ice weight matchesthe final ice weight, ice shaver 11 is stopped and the blender started.Dependent on the quantity of the drink selected, the blender will run apredetermined time and then stop. A drink of perfect quality, and of adesired quantity, may now be served.

Other minor variations to the method of FIG. 5 just described arecontemplated by the present invention. In some instances, and forcertain types of drinks, for example, it may be desirable to start theblender at the time the drink type is selected and before ice shaver 11is started. Then, if desired, before the tare weight is determined, asin the method of FIG. 4, the blender may run a few moments to free theinteraction of the coupler 43 and the spline drive for the blender whichcould result in a more accurate tare weight reading.

In view of the foregoing, it should thus be evident that a machineconstructed and operated as described herein will be controlled based onweight measurements being obtained to produce drinks of a consistentquality and quantity, thereby accomplishing the objects of the presentinvention and otherwise substantially improving the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of making a liquid and ice drinkutilizing a blender and a source of ice comprising the steps of placinga quantity of liquid in the pitcher of a blender, and transferring icefrom the source of ice to the pitcher until a predetermined weight ofice is received by the pitcher to make a liquid and ice drink.
 2. Themethod according to claim 1 wherein the predetermined weight of iceequals a selected liquid-to-ice ratio.
 3. The method according to claim2 wherein the source of ice is an ice dispenser and the step oftransferring ice includes the steps of initiating the dispensing of theice, weighing the ice dispensed, and stopping the dispensing of the icewhen the selected liquid-to-ice ratio is reached.
 4. The methodaccording to claim 3 wherein the step of weighing includes the step ofdetermining the weight of the liquid.
 5. The method according to claim 4wherein the step of determining includes the steps of weighing the emptypitcher, weighing the pitcher with the liquid therein, and subtractingthe weight of the empty pitcher from the weight of the pitcher with theliquid therein.
 6. The method according to claim 1 further comprisingthe step of starting the blender before the step of transferring.
 7. Themethod according to claim 6 further comprising the step of stopping theblender after the step of transferring.
 8. The method according to claim1 wherein the predetermined weight of ice is dependent on the quantityof the liquid.
 9. The method according to claim 8 wherein the source ofice is an ice dispenser and the step of transferring ice includes thesteps of initiating the dispensing of the ice, weighing the icedispensed, and stopping the dispensing of the ice when a predeterminedweight of the ice is reached.
 10. The method according to claim 9wherein the step of weighing the ice includes the steps of weighing thepitcher with the liquid therein to determine an initial weight, weighingthe pitcher with the liquid therein as the ice is being transferred tothe pitcher to determine a current weight, and subtracting the initialweight from the current weight to determine the current weight of theice.
 11. The method according to claim 10 further comprising the step ofcomparing the current weight of ice with the predetermined weight of icean d commencing the step of stopping the dispensing when the currentweight of ice equals the predetermined weight of ice.
 12. The methodaccording to claim 1 further comprising the step of starting the blenderafter the step of transferring.
 13. A method of making a liquid and icedrink utilizing a blender and an ice dispenser comprising the steps ofweighing an empty pitcher of the blender, placing an arbitrary amount ofliquid in the pitcher, selecting a desired liquid-to-ice ratio for thedrink, starting the blender, weighing the pitcher with the liquidtherein, determining the weight of the liquid by subtracting the weightof the empty pitcher from the weight of the pitcher with the liquidtherein, initiating the transfer of ice from the dispenser to thepitcher, terminating the transfer of ice when the liquid-to-ice ratiomatches the selected liquid-to-ice ratio, and stopping the blender. 14.A method of making a liquid and ice drink utilizing a blender and an icedispenser comprising the steps of placing a quantity of liquid in thepitcher of the blender, selecting a weight of ice to be added to thepitcher, weighing the pitcher and liquid to determine an initial weight,initiating the transfer of ice from the dispenser to the pitcher,weighing the pitcher with the liquid therein as the ice is beingtransferred to determine a current weight, subtracting the initialweight from the current weight to determine the weight of the ice,stopping the transfer of ice when the weight of the ice matches theselected weight, and operating the blender to mix the drink. 15.Apparatus for controlling the amount of ice for a drink comprising ablender having a pitcher, an ice dispenser for transferring ice to saidpitcher, and a weighing mechanism to determine the weight of thetransferred ice, said weighing mechanism initiating the stopping of thetransfer of the ice to said pitcher when a predetermined weight of iceis in said pitcher.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein saidweighing mechanism includes a deflection beam having one end carryingsaid pitcher, and a strain gauge on said beam to measure the weight ofsaid pitcher and the content of said pitcher.
 17. The apparatusaccording to claim 16 further comprising an electronic controlcommunicating with said strain gauge to receive weight information fromsaid strain gauge.
 18. The apparatus according to claim 17 furthercomprising a plurality of selection buttons, each said selection button,upon activation, providing different information to said electroniccontrol regarding the desired weight of the ice to be transferred. 19.The apparatus according to claim 18 further comprising a motor tooperate said blender, said electronic control operating said motor inaccordance with information received.
 20. The apparatus according toclaim 18 further comprising a motor for said ice dispenser, saidelectronic control operating said motor in accordance with informationreceived.